2010 Point Guard Prospects

Kevin Pelton, stormbasketball.com | March 24, 2010
Stormbasketball.com is taking a look at the top prospects for the April 8 WNBA Draft on a position-by-position basis. For the top players on the board, Storm Head Coach Brian Agler offers his insider take as well as a comparison to a current WNBA player. Today we start with the playmakers.

EPIPHANNY PRINCE

From: Rutgers/Botas (Turkey) | Height: 5-9 | Born: 1/11/88Key Stats - PPG: 19.6 | APG: 2.2 | RPG: 4.9Bio: Prince has made history throughout her career. First it was by breaking Cheryl Miller's national high-school record by scoring 113 points in a game. Then, after three years and one Final Four appearance for Rutgers, Prince decided to forego her senior season and play professionally in Turkey with Botas Spor prior to being eligible for the WNBA Draft. Coach Agler says … "Explosive scorer. Strong. I think that she could play one or two. Mentally tough, physically tough player."WNBA comparison: "Cappie Pondexter."

ANDREA RILEY

From: Oklahoma State | Height: 5-5 | Born: 7/22/88Key Stats - PPG: 26.7 | APG: 6.5 | RPG: 3.4Bio: More than talented enough to make up for her lack of size, Riley has helped transform an Oklahoma State program that had not reached the NCAA Tournament in 11 years prior to her arrival. As a senior, Riley ranked in the nation's top five in both scoring and assists per game, truly doing it all.Coach Agler says … "Explosive. Quick with the ball. Has great range, can score off the dribble. Definitely has a scorer's mentality. Probably as good an athlete as there is in the draft - her quickness and strength finishing is incredible"WNBA comparison: "I don't know if we have anybody like her in the league, to be honest."

ALISON LACEY

From: Iowa State | Height: 6-0 | Born: 12/26/87Key Stats - PPG: 16.1 | APG: 6.3 | RPG: 5.1Bio: A native of Canberra, Australia who came to the U.S. during high school as an exchange student, Lacey has been one of the nation's best all-around point guards. She recorded a triple-double earlier this season against Iowa and became the seventh Big 12 player with 1,500 career points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.Coach Agler says … "Good size for a point guard. Has a top assist-to-turnover ratio. Excellent shooter. Sees the floor well. Has been hampered this year with illness, so she's missed some games, and I don't know if she's even 100 percent right now. Has done a good job as a leader of this Iowa State team to get them where they are - they finished second in the Big 12 and reached the Sweet Sixteen."WNBA comparison: "She has some traits of Lindsay Whalen and some traits of Sue Bird, though she's not at that level."

ALEXIS GRAY-LAWSON

From: California | Height: 5-8 | Born: 4/21/87Key Stats - PPG: 17.5 | APG: 1.7 | RPG: 5.5Bio: Gray-Lawson came to California as part of an incredible recruiting class that included 2009 Storm first-round pick Ashley Walker and training-camp invitee Devanei Hampton. It was Gray-Lawson who was initially the leader, winning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors, but a torn ACL forced her to sit out the next season and left her a year behind her peers. As a fifth-year senior, Gray-Lawson was the leader of a youthful Bears squad and was voted winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which goes to the nation's top player 5-8 or under.Coach Agler says … "She's more of a two. Strong body. Scorer's mentality. A little bit undersized in terms of height but makes up for it with her mentality and her strength. Has three-point range, can score off the dribble, has a knack for getting to the free-throw line."WNBA comparison: "She's a little bit like Matee Ajavon."

OTHER POINT GUARD PROSPECTS

Ashley Houts, Georgia - First Team All-SEC pick has nearly as many steals (67) as turnovers (78).Taylor Liley, Oregon - Averaged 3.7 three-pointers per game this season, tops in the nation, in Paul Westhead's up-tempo system.Courtnay Pilypaitis, Vermont - 6-1 native of Canada ranked in the nation's top 10 in nine different statistical categories and became the first player in America East Conference history to reach the 1,000-point, 500 rebound and 500 assist milestones.Alexis Rack, Mississippi State - Lady Bulldogs' third all-time leading scorer (after WNBA players LaToya Thomas and Tan White) had 30 points to lead Mississippi State past Ohio State Tuesday and to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.